Weekend Top 10 FREE Events (Mar 20-22, 2015)

1. First Day of Spring Free Ice Celebration – Friday, March 20 from 12-9 p.m. All guests will receive a FREE limited edition cup of Italian Ice in the available flavor of their choice to celebrate the arrival of spring. Rita’s Italian Ice, 6001 W Parmer Ln, Austin.
2. Flatstock 48 – Friday, March 20 and Saturday, March 21, from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Presented by the American Poster Institute (API), Flatstock 48 will display the works of the world’s top gig poster artists. The show will feature posters of varying styles, colors and techniques for sale by the very artists who created them. FREE and open to the public with FREE SXSW Guest Pass wristbands, available in advance or onsite, at the doors of the event. (Only visitors age 13 and up need a wristband.) Austin Convention Center, Exhibit Hall 4, 500 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin.
3. Pan Americana Festival – Friday, March 20 and Saturday, March 21, from 4-11 p.m. All ages show featuring performances by: Master Blaster Sound System, Celso Piña, Kinky, and Los Master Plus. FREE parking available at Fiesta Gardens, Sanchez Elementary School, and Martin Middle School. Shuttles will be running to and from the MACC from 4-11 p.m. FREE! ESB-MACC, 600 River St, Austin.
4. Free SXSW Shows at Auditorium Shores – Friday, March 20, from 5-9 p.m. and Saturday, March 21, from 2:40-9 p.m. The Auditorium Shores Stage on Lady Bird Lake features a three-day series of free-to-the-public, charity beneficiary concert events with the beautiful Austin skyline serving as the backdrop. See the schedule here. Admission is FREE with a free SXSW Guest Pass wristband, which can be picked up in advance or onsite at the gate. Auditorium Shores, 800 W Riverside Dr, Austin.
5. Star Party – Friday, March 20, from 7:30-9 p.m. Join the Austin Astronomical Society to view the night skies through telescopes! No registration necessary and all ages welcome. FREE! Wells Branch Community Library parking lot, 15001 Wells Port Drive, Austin.
6. Rock + Chalk – Saturday, March 21, from 3-7:30 p.m. Children of all ages are invited to rock out and celebrate the final weekend of Spring Break! Ralph’s World will kick off the afternoon of springtime jams at 3 p.m., followed by Groundwork Music Orchestra at 3:35 p.m. At 4:15 p.m. Elizabeth McQueen will perform, then Joe McDermott will take the stage at 4:55 p.m. At 5:30 p.m. The Que Pastas will play, followed by Koo Koo Kanga Roo at 6:15. At 7 p.m., The Jellydots will finish off a night that will have kids begging for more! In addition to enjoying live music on the lawn, kids will have a blast in the chalk art zone presented by All Things Kids and other free activities throughout Domain II, including music lessons, a musical instrument petting zoo, temporary tattoos, costumed character appearances, a dance contest with prizes, giveaways and more. For the full lineup and for weather updates, visit the Facebook event page. FREE! The Domain II lawn in front of iPic Theater, 3225 Amy Donovan Plaza, Austin.
7. Nowruz Festival – Saturday, March 21, from 4-9 p.m. Celebrate the Spring Equinox, which is also the Persian New Year, at Central Market. The festival lineup includes 1001 Nights Orchestra, Austin’s award-winning world music band Atash, UT Middle Eastern Ensemble Bereket, and the Ravaan Persian Dance Company. Be sure to stop by the henna booth, children’s drawing table, and the special Nowruz “Haft-Seen” table. The Nowruz Festival is one of the most popular annual events at Central Market, so arrive early to find parking. The event is rain or shine and is completely FREE and open to the public. Children and families are welcome to attend! Central Market, 4001 N Lamar Blvd, Austin.
8. Lonestar Dance Performance at Zilker Hillside – Saturday, March 21 at 7:30 p.m. Stop bullies. Build confidence. Love one another. Come support young dancers in an evening of self-affirmation. The show, “Matters of the Heart,” is presented by Lonestar Dance Center, featuring MUV Dance and Fitness and Performing Arts Studio Georgetown. FREE! Rain date is Sunday, March 22. See the Facebook event page for weather updates. Zilker Hillside Theater, 2201 Barton Springs Rd, Austin.
9. Step Into Spring – Mad Tiger Festival – Sunday, March 22, from 1-5 p.m. The City of Austin and community partners have transformed and expanded the Austin New Year celebration, canceled this year due to inclement weather, into three days of FREE, family-friendly events celebrating the arrival of spring. The first event is a musical showcase featuring Riders Against The Storm (1 p.m.), Koo Koo Kangaroo (2 p.m.), Mother Falcon (3 p.m.), and Peelander-Z (4 p.m.). Mueller Lake Park, 4550 Mueller Blvd, Austin.
10. Young Artists’ Concert Series “On Cloud Nine” – Sunday, March 22 at 2:30 p.m. Join Classical Music for the World to hear the sounds of Haydn, Chopin, Prokofiev and Conus. Featuring young musician Joonhee (John) Cho in a performance of piano and violin. This event is FREE, open to all, and families with young children are welcome. Stay for refreshments and to meet the young artist afterwards! The First Baptist Church of Austin, 901 Trinity Street, Austin.

Looking for something fun to do with your child (birth through age 9) this spring? Sign up for a FREE Music Together Demo Class March 23rd–25th at Heartsong Music and register NOW for their Spring Session of family music classes!